Friday, July 13

R&B ebborah jordon

Long before she released her radio friendly album, Private Dancer in 1984, Tina Turner was a hard rockin’ balls-to-the-wall front woman for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. With a mix of gospel, soul, blues and rock, the husband-and-wife pair re-defined a woman’s role in rock and roll. Ike’s perfectionism coupled with Tina’s explosive and sexually-charged stage presence made the band as explosive visually as they were musically.

Ebborah Jordon is what Tina Turner was in her heyday, an incredible performer with a pair of pipes that leave audiences stunned. With an excellent stage show, Jordon has strutted her way across stages for years with her tribute to the legendary Turner. The show is a volatile romp back in time as she performs such classics as “Proud Mary” and “A Fool in Love” with such precision you’d be hard pressed to tell the two apart. — Tony Engelhart

[The Cedarwood Sports Bar & Grill at the Dome, 8-10 p.m., $7-$12, 7404 Pacific Hwy. E., Milton, 253.922.5727]

Friday, July 13

DRAG KINGS clean slate

On Friday the 13th, Clean Slate, a drag king group in Tacoma, will perform its first show ever at Club Sapphire. That either takes a lot of guts or a lot of rabbit feet! The “boi’s” will be out “showing off their best,” and the Superstar Divas, Bolivia, Ginger Lee and Honey Bee from Portland will perform as guest stars. Rumor has it that a whole bunch of people from Portland are buzzing up here to be in the audience for this show, which happens to be on the eve of Tacoma’s Gay Pride Festival, Out in the Park, in Wright Park.

The Clean Slate show will be a combination of group and individual lip-sync/dance numbers. The music will be a combo of rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, and a little bit of Latin flavor to spice it up. According to the group’s MySpace page, their goal is to keep their shows versatile and entertaining to followers of all genres of music.

Though the group is new, the majority of its members have performed in drag at various places in Tacoma, Olympia and Seattle. For more info, visit www.myspace.com/154562222. — Angela Jossy

[Club Sapphire, 8-10 p.m., no cover, 5412 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253. 475.6322]

Friday, July 13

Tim Casey and the Bluescats

Back in 2001 I reviewed this band’s CD, Swing Shift, and here’s what I had to say:

Swing Shift delivers jump and swing, Texas and Chicago-style shuffles and good old-time rock and roll. The horn section, with tight arrangements and impressive solo’s, is a key ingredient in this seven-piece band. Tim Casey and the Bluescats swing throughout this recording in a way that makes it obvious they both enjoy and understand the music.

I rock, huh?

Tim Casey and company have been offering up their unique brand of swing blues throughout the Northwest since 1997. The band has caused a stir with the blues community, picking up five BB Awards along the way. Casey is as cool as his slicked-back hair and two-tone shoes. With his trusty Fender Stratocaster, he leads the band through self-penned jumpers and big bop standards. To date, they have only released three studio recordings, but that’s OK. To experience these guys is to experience them live as they put on a show second to none.

Now in their 10th year, the zoot suit-wearing seven-piece essemble hasn’t slowed down but has gained momentum down the blues drag strip. So buckle up, you’re in for a ride. — Tony Engelhart

[Jazzbones, with the Blues Orbiters, Friday, July 13, 8 p.m., $10, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

Saturday, July 14

ROCK randy hansen’s jimi hendrix tribute

If you’re a Jimi Hendrix fan, Randy Hansen needs no introduction. If you recently discovered the late guitar God, listen up. Since the late ’70s Hansen has been emulating the music, the look and the groove Hendrix developed during his short but lustrous career. The first time I experienced Hansen he was touring with Buddy Miles from Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys ensemble. His choice licks were memorable, and his phrasing was flawless as he ripped through classics such as “If 6 Was 9,” “Crosstown Traffic,” and a rendition of “Voodoo Chile” that easily rivaled Stevie Ray Vaughn’s version with precision. 

But Hansen digs deeper to include some post-Experience material as well. His seminal 1993 release of Hendrix By Hansen was tailored for his legion of fans as the 13 live tracks showcased his gutsy mastery of the Strat. In 2004 he issued Old Dog New Tricks. The disc of original material was described as: “killer, bad-ass, mind-blowing, grooved-out, authentically trippy retro-70’s bluesy Hendrixy heavy guitar power trio jams that are guaranteed to blow your heavy guitar mind” on CD Baby. While nobody can ever replace Jimi, you’d be hard pressed to find a more dedicated musician keeping his legacy alive. — TE

[Cedarwood Sports Bar & Grill at the Dome, With Blue 55, Saturday, July 14, 9 p.m., $10, 7404 Pacific Hwy. E., Milton, 253.922.5727]

Sunday, July 15

OUTDOORS songwriters at sunset

Don’t remind Bobble Tiki: It’s deck season. However, Bobble Tiki finds it hard to enjoy the sun on his back when he’s sitting inches from the bus lane. Fumes and salmon fumé, it turns out, do not mix well.  But there is another option.  Masa.

Bobble Tiki loves this Mexican restaurant’s rooftop deck overlooking Sixth Avenue. It has a resort feel to it.

Bobble Tiki loves it even more now that the joint hosts “Songwriters at Sunset” on their deck. Every Sunday through Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m. a live band will perform until the sun goes down.

The Josh Clauson Trio kicks off the series July 15. Tickets are $10. The deck opens at 5:30 p.m. for dinner and drinks.

The remaining concerts are: The Senate, July 22; Vicci Martinez, Ryan Sheasmith, Jonathan Kingham, July 29; Danny Godinez and James Whiton, Aug. 5; Gypsy Soul, Aug. 12; Handful of Luvin’, Aug. 19; Tingstad & Rumbel, Aug. 26. — Bobble Tiki

[Masa, 7:30 p.m., $10, 2611 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.254.0560]